(A/N) So, we're into chapter two! This is when the story gets a little... deeper! I hope you enjoy reading! It had some SERIOUS editing in this chapter :D

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Fullmetal Alchemist. But I think I own Aura! Woo!

And even when Ed isn't talking to Al, he still manages to be completely insensitive, as you will find out...

Chapter two - 'Don't you want to hold my hand?'

'Look, Ed, don't do anything… stupid!' Al hissed. He watched Ed clamber through the bathroom towards the door at the other side.

'Would I?' Ed spat, pushing hard against the door.

'Well, yeah.' Al slammed the door of the bathroom shut and the noise of chatter returned to the carriage.

'Nice to know you're supportive! I hope you and your recyclable head have a great time when I'm away!'

Al grabbed his brother on the shoulder. Ed pulled out of his grasp.

'Al, come on! Don't you understand! There is someone in our house! The house that we burnt down!'

'Well, someone could've just built a new one in the same place!'

'No! Winry wouldn't have let that happen! Why is everything so hard for you to accept, Al?'

'Ed, you're overreacting, just hold on -'

But it was too late. Ed had shot out through the finally open door and was clambering up the side of the trailer in front, using the silver pegs sticking out of the metal as footholds. Al called out to him to stop, but Ed was already crawling along the top of the train. A swift jump now and he could land safely and be quick to see who was living in his house. But the wind was unusually strong, and he had to clamp his hands down on the train's top so he didn't tumble off.

Streaks of blonde hair blowing in his eyes, Ed pushed against the wind. If he didn't jump off now, he'd be too far. Then it struck him. The train should've stopped. It was supposed to have stopped in Rizenbul. He shouted to Al, but his words were tangled in the harsh wind. It tore at his body, and Ed swung off the train, just grabbing onto the tiny railing at the top with his fingers. Cursing, he whacked straight into the side of the train, sadly where the windows were. Struggling, he heaved himself back onto the top of the train. With bent knees, he took a deep breath, and leapt from the train.

'Ed!' yelled Al, who had been watching his brother's every more. 'Ed! Are you okay!?'

His urge was to jump after Ed, but looking off at the side of the train-track, his brother was nowhere to be seen.

'You idiot!' Al screeched. He turned back into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. 'I really worry about that boy sometimes. No, wait, scratch that. Most of the time.'

And it was then, that all the train's passengers, attendants, and the train itself froze. The loss of alchemy was having a bigger effect than expected.

(Ed's P.O.V)

Gentle flakes of snow fell upon Ed's cheeks as he lay, un-moving, in the middle of a field of frosty grass. Snow-covered trees lined the edge of the field, and he dared to open his eyes. He took in these sights, and pressed his hand against his cheek, the melting snow dripping between his fingers. Brushing his hair out of his eyes, he sat up, and glanced slowly around.

'You know, it's dangerous for you to be alone out here.'

Ed turned his neck to fast to look behind him, he instantly cried out in pain.

'You shouldn't do that either. That's dangerous too.'

A girl fell to her knees next to him, smiling. Ed's face was contorted with confusion, and he was amazed she could smile so friendly to a stranger.

'W-who are you?' Ed stuttered, inching back.

Still the girl smiled. 'I'm Aura. And you?'

'E-Edward. E-Edward Elric.'

'E-Edward?'

'N-no, just - just Edward. Or Ed. I don't really care.'

Ed suddenly found himself feeling uncomfortable. The girl gave off a weird vibe. Like a hippy I once met in Lior, Ed thought, his mind wandering. That was a cool hippy...she gave me a kiwi - ah, lets not get sidetracked now Edward.

'Yeah. Ed's better.' Aura stood up, and held out her hand. Ed sat still, as if he was frozen.

Aura laughed like a child. 'Take it, silly.'

'Take what?'

'Are you for real? Take my hand. You know what a hand is, right?' she added, grinning.

Ed scowled, and Aura pulled him up.

'So, how did you get here exactly? It's a pretty secluded area.' Aura asked. Ed walked along side her.

'I'm not entirely sure. One minute I was on top of a train, and the next -' he began, but Aura interrupted.

'On top of a train? Admittedly, that's a little weird, but still, I'd never dare to do a thing like that. I'm actually surprised you could get up there.'

'Why!?'

'Because you're really short. Really short.'

'AT LEAST I DON'T LOOK LIKE A GIRL VERSION OF PETER PAN OR GIVE OFF SCARY HIPPY VIBES LIKE A CERTAIN WIERDO GIRL I NOW KNOW!'

Aura grinned, and took Ed's hand. Surprised, he yanked it back.

'Don't you want to hold my hand, Edward?'

'What?'

'Don't you want to hold my hand? I want to hold my hand.'

Ed froze. This girl was a little weird. Maybe he should just tie her to a tree and make a quick getaway...

'Edward!' asked Aura. 'Well!?'

'Okay, calm down, we'll get you a nice cup of tea, uh, maybe a few sanity pills, then I'll just dig you a nice hole, and you can lay in it until you feel better, 'kay?' he offered, suddenly feeling a little worried. A nice deep hole, he thought.

'Edward,' Aura said in almost a whisper. 'Don't you want to hold my hand?'

'Of course I do, but -'

'Then hold it.'

'Ah, but I have, um, tin can disease that I caught from my, uh, brother, and -'

'I'd already have it now, so just hold my hand, Edward.'

'Ah, but it's a special disease and you can't catch it until -'

'Hold, my hand.'

Aura's voice was tinged with anger. She thrust out her hand, and Ed held it, fearing the worst if he didn't. This girl has problems, he thought to himself. Serious problems. She's obsessed with her own hand, for crying out loud!

'Better?' he asked weakly.

'Not really.' Aura narrowed her eyes 'You can't stay anymore, Edward. I won't let you stay. Because you're one of them making everything wrong.'

'Aura?' asked Ed slowly. 'Are you feeling okay?'

'I said you can't stay!' She raised her hand and it crackled with blue light before focussing into a narrow beam and throwing Ed. He crashed into the ground, coughing and spluttering. Aura had done something strange, something similar to casting a spell like a kid from a fairytale.

Ed's body jolted, and his head spinning, he stood up and ran. And yeah, he whacked into a tree, but he wanted to be as far from her as he could be.

'Edward!' Aura shouted, clearly running after him. 'Edward wait!'

'Wait!? For you!? Are you insane!?'

Still coughing, Ed ran, faster and faster, but Aura was already in front of him, her speed tremendous.

'Why are you running, Edward?' she asked, looking genuinely surprised.

'Why am I running!? Because you're a psychopath!' Ed choked out, between splutters. 'You need therapy! Because, you're not human! No human can do that without alchemy! And alchemy's gone!'

Aura smirked. 'Oh really? Then what am I?'

'Apart from the psychopath thing? You're...You're...' Ed was lost for words. Then it hit him. 'You're one of the homunculi!'

Aura shook her head. 'Not quite.'

Not quite? Ed could've sworn she was a homunculus. And why wasn't he allowed to stay? Stay where exactly?

Then it dawned on him.

'Alchemy.' he said slowly.

Aura tried to look innocent, but Ed could tell from the tic in her cheek that she knew something.

'Alchemy!' he called. 'You know something, don't you!? About Alchemy! And where it's gone!'

Aura refused to look at him. She folded her arms and looked up like a little girl. Very serious problems, Ed though again.

It was then he noticed the gold pendant dangling on a thin chain around her neck.

'Where did you get that?' he asked, smirking. 'Because that has alchemy in, doesn't it? And you've hidden it all away for a reason, haven't you?'

Aura was silent, still in a strop. She finally gave in. 'Yeah, okay? But I'm not doing anything wrong.'

Ed was taken aback. 'Of course you are! People's lives depend on that stuff!'

'It doesn't matter when you're like me.'

'Like. . .you?'

Aura nodded. 'Yeah, like me. I've got a long story to tell you. I can explain why it's so important alchemy dies out.'

'But it can't! Alchemy's too important! It's been used for so long now, if you take it away, everything will go haywire! Alchemy has weaved itself into the air, the ground, the sea, the land! It's like another element! If you take that away, even time could...mess up.'

That explains it, thought Ed. If I'd have looked into our house, I'd have seen Al and me, and...and our mother. If Aura doesn't return alchemy now, we could lose everything. Tim is already mucking up. I had no idea alchemy was the core of so many things!

'Go on then,' said Edward. 'Tell me your story.'

Aura nodded. 'Okay. But it's long.'

'Well, tell it fast. 'Cos I just want to get home and tease my brother about being a soup can again.'

'A soup can?'

'Oh, er, that's a long story too.'

(A/N) Well, here we are again, at the end of another dysfunctional chapter! As I said, please review, and I hope you carry on reading!

Dying by sherbet, signing out x